I love my hometown

What do you love about where you live?

I think I’ve made it clear in other blogposts that I love the ability of leaving my building on the edge of town and depending on the route I take being in the countryside 5 to 15 minutes later. Yesterday (23rd August 2023) was no exception. My daughter who came to visit friends and family had time to go for a walk with her old mum.

We set off so I could show her a place she’d not been to before, that I hoped she’d love as much as I did.

We set off under the viaduct and through part of the village of Digswell. After walking through Lockleys Wood we walked along the ridge beside the short stretch of railway where the small tunnel finishes and the long tunnel starts.

Like me first time I saw a witch’s tower with spiky roof my daughter thought it was probably a water tower. And as we walked along loved listening for the dragon’s in the dungeons as the trains ran through the tunnel pushing the air ahead of them and pulling the air behind them so we could hear the dragon’s breathing either side of the sound of the hidden speeding train.

We got to the bench to find a couple we’re already there so went for an amble looking for a log to sit upon to eat a picnic snack.

When my girl spotted what seemed to be a construction of some kind she went to check it out, and I followed along. It turned out to be some sort of electricity array- my daughter said she could see LNER on it so it looks as though when modernisation of the overhead cables was done it got left behind (apparently my daughter could see another one laying somewhere nearby).

We saw the couple that had been on the bench walking towards us so we went back to the bench, had our snack, and took a couple of photos.

A small brown butterfly was extremely attracted to my daughter and kept flying around her (most likely a meadow brown which has a varied habitat including meadows and woods).

Going back home we walked in a different direction to go through Burnham Green. If our walk had gone to plan we would have gone down an alleyway and then a shortish walk home… however there was tree trimming happening down the alleyway so we went on a magical mystery tour and drew a Scottie dog on the map.

We had to go the opposite way to that we had intended and found ourselves on the edge of a field. Walking along the edge my daughter was struck by the view as she “could see for miles” I must admit even in my blurry vision the gold stubble, dark green copses, and stunning blue sky looked glorious.

After taking photos of the view we say a Christmas cuddly toy in the hedge, and when my daughter stopped to take more photos of the scenery I took one of her with angel kisses behind her.

We came out of the field into the village of Burnham Green and crossing the green took a walk through public footpaths through a couple of farms, then by the river, and across the B road. After walking through scrubland we were back among the houses near my home.

Our outward journey was 2.16 miles and our homeward journey would have been about the same without the forced detour however it was 4.03 miles as we would have skirted the edge of Burnham Green instead of going through the centre… but bonus we drew a Scottie dog’s head on the map so we couldn’t begrudge the extra mileage.

My long white cane kept trying to bring home souvenirs (twigs, grass, etc) so it was a surprise when untying my laces to find my trainers smuggled home a burr probably from a burdock.

My daughter admitted she misses walking in woods and fields though she enjoys walking on the beach in Cleethorpes. I must admit I would need woods and fields more than a beach if I had to lose a habitat to walk in.

What’s your favourite place to walk?

Until next time.